Ferguson has until 4pm next Tuesday to respond to the charge, which relates to comments made about Atkinson immediately after Manchester United's Premier League defeat at Chelsea.

The United boss was fuming at Atkinson over his failure to dismiss Chelsea goalscorer David Luiz for clear fouls on Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney after the Brazilian had already been booked in Tuesday's game.

Atkinson then awarded Chelsea what Ferguson considered a "soft" penalty when Yury Zhirkov fell under Chris Smalling's challenge.

Although Ferguson's comments to host broadcaster Sky Sports are not thought to have overstepped the mark, those to United's in-house TV station MUTV have caused concern.

"You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn't get that," said Ferguson in the aftermath of the 2-1 defeat.

"I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst."

The Football Association reviewed footage of the interview to check the context in which Ferguson delivered the words.

And, even though he immediately softened his stance, altering the word 'fair' to 'strong', disciplinary chiefs feel there is sufficient malice to warrant charging him.

Alan Leighton, head of the Prospect union which acts for match officials, told BBC Radio Five Live that if Ferguson had apologised for his remarks, that would have been a sufficient atonement.

Leighton said: "Everybody would prefer to see an apology and an explanation and then move on.

"In the absence of that, a charge is going to take place."

The news of Ferguson's charge comes after Wayne Rooney escaped further punishment for elbowing James McCarthy at Wigan last week. Even Ferguson accepted his star striker had been "fortunate".

The Scottish manager, who has decided not to hold a press conference ahead of Sunday's FA Cup tie with Liverpool, has not been so lucky and unless he can persuade the FA of his innocence he is facing a lengthy period away from the dug-out.

Ferguson already has two matches of a four-game ban hanging over him following his ill-advised comments about Alan Wiley last season, when he implied the official was not fit enough for his job.

That will be triggered if guilt is established, which would condemn him to the stands for United's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Arsenal at Old Trafford on March 12, plus the Premier League encounter with Bolton seven days later.

Punishment for his latest indiscretion would be added.

Despite Ferguson's prior record, Leighton does not feel referees live in fear of his criticism.

"I don't think they fear anybody, I think they referee without fear or favour and that is absolutely right," Leighton said.

"I think there is an issue in that (Ferguson) isn't the only one - all managers need to think about what they say in terms of criticising referees.

"All of the referees understand that their performances will be criticised and their decisions will be criticised, and they are absolutely fine with that, not a problem.

"But when the fundamental ability of the referee to do his job is criticised - in terms of physical fitness or integrity - then that line has been crossed.

"If managers are going to start questioning the integrity of referees, then they can't be surprised when action is taken against them."